Central Florida's Hotel Occupancy Level Improving But No World-Beater, Expert Says

ORLANDO-Metro Orlando’s glory hotel occupancy days of 80%-plus levels may be history now because of a 100,000-room inventory that keeps growing almost quarterly. That’s the assessment of University of Central Florida Finance Prof. David F. Scott Jr., one of the area’s most astute monitors of economic activity.

In his newest report, Scott notes the last fully audited period in October of 70.7% occupancy is a 15.52% improvement over September but still 5.35% under the 74.7% level of October 1999.

“Central Florida hotel occupancy rates are now categorized as ‘moderate’, a bit less wrenching than the previous rating of ‘weak’,” the professor tells GlobeSt.com. He expects the final occupancy rate for 2000 will come in near 71.7%, matching the 1999 performance.